American History’s Forgotten 14th President
Franklin Pierce’s life was full of tragedy.
Be honest, what do you remember about Franklin Pierce? If you are like most Americans, myself included, chances are not much. This tends to be the reality of many of our Nation’s chief executives, especially when they succeed a great leader, or in Pierce’s case precede one. Though he may not be remembered for much, Handsome Frank did lead quite an interesting political and personal life, taking over the presidency in a time where pre-Civil War tensions were flaring.
Humble Beginnings
Pierce was born in Hillsborough, New Hampshire in 1804 to Benjamin Pierce and his second wife Anna Kendrick. Benjamin had served as a lieutenant in the American Revolution and, following the war, had elected to move north from Massachusetts to put roots down on 50 acres of newly acquired land in rural New Hampshire. Benjamin was deeply rooted in the state’s politics, even serving as governor for a time, a feat that surely influenced young Franklin’s path to the White House. Benjamin was also a staunch believer in the education process, securing his sons a place in school. Franklin attended the town school, but he was not nearly as invested in education as his father. According to his own account, Franklin even left school prematurely one day, walking over 12 miles home just to be driven back and forced to trudge through a thunderstorm by his father.
Pierce decided to finish his primary and secondary schooling and enrolled in Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine in the fall of 1820. Throughout his time at Bowdoin, Franklin was involved with the Athenian Society as well as the Bowdoin Cadets, an unofficial military company. His time in college was also where he met one of his lifelong friends and literary icon, Nathaniel Hawthorne. Following Bowdoin, Pierce spent time studying law at Northampton Law School in Massachusetts and time interning under Judge Edmund Parker. Pierce began his legal career in Hillsborough in 1827, but he got off to a rocky start, losing his first case. However, as he had done before, Pierce preserved and carved out a decent legal career on the back of his charm and strong oration.
Taking on Politics
Pierce’s interests in politics accelerated during the 1828 presidential election between incumbent John Quincy Adams and populist General Andrew Jackson. It was in this year that young Franklin won his first political office, town moderator of Hillsborough. Franklin was a staunch Jackson supporter and used his Democratic support to propel himself into the New Hampshire House of Representatives and in 1831 was elected as Speaker of the House. Pierce, true to his Jacksonian beliefs, opposed banking expansion and supported strengthening of the state militia. His strong stances and rising popularity among Democrats in New Hampshire aided him once again as Pierce was subsequently nominated and elected to a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and began his term in 1833.
A Personal Touch
Around this same time, Pierce met and married Jane Means Appleton, the daughter of a local minister. Jane’s family was not like Franklin’s. The Appleton’s were Whigs, really did not enjoy politics, and loathed Washington. Jane was no exception to this. She reluctantly traveled with Franklin to D.C. for his first term in office but did not stay for his second in 1835. At this time, Jane moved back home to New Hampshire to stay with her mother, along with a surprise. She was pregnant.
Jane gave birth in 1836 to the Pierces’ first son, Franklin Jr., who tragically lived only a few short days. This death would foreshadow much of the tragedy that would continually plague the young family. Following the death of Franklin Jr., Jane traveled back to Washington where Franklin Sr. would be serving now as a Senator. While Franklin was in the Senate, Jane gave birth to two more sons, Frank Robert in 1839 and Benjamin in 1841. Much to the pleasure of Jane, Franklin elected to quit the Senate in 1842, and the family left D.C. relocating to Concord, New Hampshire.
Back at Home
Pierce, though out of political office, remained a strong supporter of the Democratic Party, just as he had done in Washington. He also committed a large portion of his time to growing his law firm, becoming quite successful taking cases for little compensation and drawing massive crowds with his courtroom skills and impressive memory. Despite his career advancements, he and Jane once again suffered a tragedy as their second son, Frank Robert, died at the hands of epidemic typhus in 1843. Pierce coped through politics and made waves in the New Hampshire Democratic Party once again. Pierce worked diligently to unify the Party on all beliefs, including anti-abolition of slavery, a quest that the newly-elected president, James K. Polk, took notice of and rewarded Franklin with the position of United States Attorney for New Hampshire.
The Quest Out West
Like his father and brothers, Pierce held a glossy dream of military service. His wish would be granted when in 1846, Congress declared war against Mexico. Pierce volunteered but no New England regiments existed yet. However, in 1847, this would change, and Pierce would be promoted to colonel and commander of the 9th Infantry Regiment. Soon after his appointment, he would actually be promoted once again in March of 1847 and served as brigadier general taking charge of his brigade and leading them to Vera Cruz later that year. Pierce led 2,500 men on route to supply General Winfield Scott and joined him in the Battle of Contreras in August. Unfortunately for Pierce, during the battle, his horse was spooked, and Pierce was left pinned under the animal which severely injured his knees. The rest of his wartime endeavors followed in the same disappointing footsteps, spending much of his time in sick tents and unable to ride due to his leg pains.
Once Again Back in New Hampshire
Following the War, Pierce stepped back into law. While practicing, Pierce continued his support of the Democratic Party, becoming a vocal supporter of the Compromise of 1850. Following the death of President Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore’s stand-in term, the election of 1852 rolled around. New Hampshire, the most notable Democratic stronghold in New England, was determined to nominate a home-grown candidate. Their choice turned out to be a successful lawyer and ex-politician by the name of Franklin Pierce.
Despite his lack of enthusiasm for the presidency, Pierce was thrown onto the ticket as a dark horse. Through a series of convoluted and confusing actions at the Democratic National Convention, Pierce found himself becoming the Democrats’ nominee for office. Pierce and his running mate, William Rufus King of Alabama, promised a lack of political agitation in regard to slavery, a platform that most likely secured them the win. With a 254–42 electoral victory over Pierce’s military acquaintance and Whig, Winfield Scott, Franklin Pierce was now the 14th President of the United States, much to the dismay of his remaining son, Benjamin, and wife, Jane, who had no interest in moving back to Washington.
The White House
Pierce’s victory excitement was short-lived. In January of 1853, just a few weeks after the election, Pierce and his family were on a train traveling from Boston. Their train-car tragically derailed and left 11-year-old Benjamin mortally wounded and nearly decapitated. The Pierce’s were left in a cloud of deep depression mourning the loss of their last remaining child. Jane, being the devout Christian she was, even questioned whether the tragedy was divine punishment for Franklin taking office.
When Pierce made his way to Washington for his inauguration, it was without his wife. Pierce was sworn in on a law book, instead of a Bible, on March 4th, 1853, officially becoming the 14th President of the United States. During his speech, Pierce alluded to his earlier tragedy by announcing that,
“You have summoned me in my weakness, you must sustain me by your strength.” — Wallner, Peter A. (2004)
Pierce’s time in office was marred with controversy and turbulence. Tensions between Democratic Party factions, as well as between northerners and southerners were rising. As a doughface, a northerner who sympathized with the South, Pierce had a hard time fitting it. His presidency consisted of foreign affairs complications, treasury mismanagement, violence like Bleeding Kansas, and the loss of Democratic strength in the North.
By the time the 1856 election reared its head, Pierce was a long shot for reelection. The country was crumbling, and his time in office did little to make matters better. Pierce was stamped out for reelection in his own party by Pennsylvania Democrat James Buchanan. Pierce, fervent in his beliefs until the bitter end, finally endorsed Buchanan, knowing that his time in office was over.
Post-Presidency and End of Life
Pierce remained in Washington for a few months following his presidency before returning home to New Hampshire. He and Jane spent time touring Europe and the Bahamas, but Pierce never let go of his political stances. He remained critical of New England abolitionists and those who he viewed as a threat to the Union.
Buchanan’s term was a disaster, so in 1860, up-and-coming Republican Abraham Lincoln was elected as the 16th President. Pierce watched as states in the South prepared to dissolve the Union that he so strongly fought for. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Pierce’s reputation continued to falter in the North. His pre-war correspondences with Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his overall anti-abolitionist sentiments cast a dark shadow on the ex-president’s life. To make matters worse, a few years later in 1863, Pierce’s wife died of tuberculosis. This was quickly followed by the passing of his close friend, Nathaniel Hawethorne, in 1864.
The final few years of Franklin Pierce’s life were shrouded in depression and drinking. The deaths of both his wife and lifelong friend were the final nails in the long-awaited coffin for the 14th President, whose life had been nothing short of tragic following his time as a young adult. In his final years, Pierce was baptized into his wife’s Episcopal faith, but that remained the only bright spot in the now defamed politician’s life. Pierce died on October 8th, 1869 at the age of 64 from cirrhosis of the liver and lives on as an often forgotten part of American History. If it were not for his tragic start to the presidency and the unprecedented turbulence surrounding the Union at his time of taking office, Pierce may have secured a different legacy in history books.
Grant Fuerstenau is a Medical Student at the University of Louisville School of Medicine and the editor of The Biographical Historian.
